Senators Lee, Ernst Urge DOJ Action Against Minnesota Fraud

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today urged further scrutiny of possible fraud by a Somali-led, taxpayer funded nonprofit organization in Minnesota. Their letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi details suspicious actions by Generation Hope MN, an organization rife with red flags positioned to receive over $1 million in federal funding.

"Americans are rightly outraged at widespread fraud in Minnesota and across the country, some of which has enriched terrorists overseas," said Senator Mike Lee. "Even in the wake of these revelations, Congress planned to send $1 million to yet another Somali aid organization, Generation Hope MN. Stopping these funds is not enough: we should pursue every red flag, uncover every wrongdoing, and suspend federal eligibility for taxpayer dollars."

"It is almost too insane to believe: Congress trying to send $1 million to an 'East African' addiction center operated above a Somali Restaurant and run by three people who live in the same house, with a relative who tried to join ISIS," said Senator Joni Ernst.

In the letter, Senators Lee and Ernst outline how Generation Hope's suspicious business practices and possible connections to terrorist groups mirror known patterns of Somali fraud with a dubious building address, financial reports that suggest minimal services and potential handouts to friends, and insufficient infrastructure or working hours to provide advertised addiction recovery support. Further, the brother of the organization's founder led a group attempting to join ISIS in Syria and was charged with providing material support to terrorists in both Syria and Iraq. The founder blamed the U.S. judicial system and defended his brother, who received an unusually short sentence despite the judge believing he was likely still a jihadist.

Access the full text of the letter here.

Read exclusive coverage by The Federalist here.

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